5He that overcometh, the same shall be
clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the
book of life, (Rev 3:5)

"Pastor, I'd like to ask
you a question if you've got a minute."

"Certainly my son. What is
it you would like to know?"

"Well, I was reading here
in Revelation and I see where it's the Overcomer who'll get all the
rewards and stuff. It just got me thinking. I've been coming to this
church for a long time and I don't think I ever heard you talk about
the Overcomer even once. Yet it's the Overcomer who'll go to Heaven and
be with God. I was just wondering if you'd tell me what an Overcomer is
and how I can know if I'm one of them or not."

"I would be glad to answer
whatever questions you may have. And this question of overcoming is a
very simple one to explain. Have you been baptized? By that I mean have
you been baptized in the proper manner and with the proper words said
over you at your baptism?"

"Yeah, I guess so. I was
baptized right here in this church, so I guess it was the right way."

"Yes, I'm sure it was. And
at your baptism, did you give your profession of faith?"

"Yeah, I guess that's what
it was. I said the words you said to say, so I guess they was the right
words like you just said."

"Yes, they were. Then my
son, you need not fear, you are a child of God and by having been born
again you are an Overcomer."

"That's all there is to it?
I mean, there's nothing I got to do? I mean, like, it looks to me like
the Bible tells me I got to do all the other things and all. But if I
hear you right, you're telling me that because I got in the ring I'm
automatically a winner, whether I fight or not. Is that what you're
telling me?"

"That's a very good picture
of the Christian life my son. Yes, that is what I'm telling you."

"Well then let me ask you
this Pastor, what about all them people who never heard the Bible
preached? What about them? Do they got to go to hell because they never
been baptized and said the right words?"

"I'm afraid that is so. And
that's why we have missionaries in the field with the sole purpose of
winning those lost souls to the Lord."

"Well, what about little
kids in them jungles, and even here too? Do they got to go to hell
because they never been baptized?"

"No, not at all my son.
Children under the age of accountability are automatically taken into
the arms of the Lord without having to be baptized."

"Is that so? Well, doesn't
that kind a sound unfair? I mean, those little kids get the rewards for
doing nothing if they die, but an old codger that worked hard to do
what God wants them to do, but never took a dip, goes to hell forever?
What about the little kids in them there jungles that grows up never
hearing the Word? They's still little kids when it comes to knowing
about Jesus aren't they? Don't they get taken up like us baptized folk
do?"

"There is a school of
thought that caters to such a notion, but I myself can't reconcile it
in Scripture. But all that is in the hands of the Lord and is not for
us to decide or worry about. The fact is, you are saved, and by being
saved, you are an Overcomer. Isn't that your concern?"

"Kind of it is. But I got
this question too that goes along with the Overcomer thing. It's about
works and all."

"Works is something you
don't have to worry about my son. There are many people trying to work
their way into Heaven, and you may be sure, works will never work to
cause one to be saved."

"I got that ok Pastor. I
know no one can work to get to Heaven. But what about all the places
where the Bible says we got to work, and our work is what's going to be
judged? What do they mean by works if works is a bad word?"

"Works will indeed be
judged my son. But you needn't worry about works or any such thing
because you're covered by the blood of Jesus. It's not your works that
will be judged, but rather it's the works of the unbeliever that will
be judged. And of course, because they are unbaptized and not of faith,
they will automatically fall into the hands of Satan and suffer his
consequences. Never fear my son, you are free from any consequences.
It's your faith that has saved you, not your works. And your faith has
been proven by the fact that you have been baptized."

How often have you heard a
sermon on Overcoming? How many times have you heard any reference to
Overcoming? Do you think the word is in the Bible? Do you have any idea
what it means?

I've seen the word, often,
when I read the Book of Revelation. But since I hadn't heard much about
it from the pulpit, I kind of skipped over those verses, regarding them
as something not particularly important, or else something that must
automatically apply to me because I was baptized as a Christian.

Though the word Overcome
is one that I passed over; it was not one without power. Each time I
saw the word, I felt that it somehow applied to me, and that I should
give it due consideration. After all, it appears to me that Salvation
and Eternal Life hinges on being an Overcomer according to Revelation.
But from many pulpits I am told, so it seems, that as long as I believe
that Jesus died for my sins; and I was baptized, that my Salvation is
assured, even if I backslide into hell itself.

Somehow that just doesn't
feel right. Especially when I come across that word
"Overcome."

So in order to determine if
Overcome is a word worth worrying about, I decided to do a study on it.

To begin with, this word
"Overcome" in Greek is also interpreted as "Prevail, Conquer, Get the
Victory."

In this study I've included
only the verses that use the word interpreted as Overcome.

When I did my research on
the subject of works and the Overcomer I discovered there were vast
areas of important Biblical principles that seems to have been
overlooked, avoided and compromised. Overcomer, as strongly as it is
emphasized in the Bible has had very little comments attributed to it.
I decided to investigate verses that were so blatantly advocating the
absolute need to overcome and to work that the commentaries could not
get around making some kind of comment on the subject. And indeed, I
found such comments. I discovered, that in their mind, a person becomes
an Overcomer by having faith. Faith? By having faith? What is faith?
Faith, in reality, is something we think we have, and that we
hope we have, but we never know if we have faith until
we are tested. For instance, I once studied and practiced to do some
skydiving. I read all the books, I practiced all the exercises, but
when it came time put my faith into a parachute, I chickened out. All
my faith was for nothing. It was in reality non-existent.

Faith in this affluent
culture has come to mean a mental assent to something that we hope will
never be challenged. Faith to us is not something that is to be tested.
If we say we have faith, even though all evidence points to our not
having faith, we are to accept what is said and not what is obvious.
Much of this attitude probably comes from the concept of "Faith
statements" made by both the world and the churches. If we believe it
is so, then it is so. If we believe we'll be given a thousand dollars,
then we will receive a thousand dollars. If we believe we will be
healed, then all we have to do is sit back and wait to be healed. If we
believe a fluffy white cloud will come and invisibly whisk us to
Heaven, then it is so (well, it's a good movie theme anyway). I have
yet to see this principle successfully applied to flying off a tall
building or swimming across the Atlantic, but I suspect there have been
attempts at such things that I haven't heard about.

Works is another word I
tried to find information on. All through the Bible, especially the New
Testament, we see the word works, and how we will be judged according
to our works. Yet for some reason, in sermons and in commentaries,
works is a word that seems to be written with invisible ink. After much
investigation I found that works is something that does not apply to
the Christian, one who has this unproven and invisible faith, but
rather works is what unbelievers will be judged by.

Doublespeak (a form of
double-talk) is the use of words and concepts that are mutually
incompatible, and yet fully accepted. Keeping this in mind, I would
like to ask you a question. Who, do you suppose, the Bible is written
to? Do you think Jesus and the Apostles were teaching the unbelievers?
Or do you think they were instructing those who already are
Christian how to behave as Christians? All the letters I see in the
Epistles were written to "the Saints in...." then the name of the
church or the city where the church is located. Revelation is written
"To the servants" and to the "churches" (Rev 1:1,4).

Jesus spoke to the
multitudes. When He spoke to the multitudes He was telling them what
they must do to be His disciple. Jesus gave many instructions to His
disciples, those who were faithfully following Him. Now I ask you, if
this is the case, that all through the Bible instructions were given to
those who bear the name of God, and punishment has been (such as in the
Old Testament) upon those God called His people, then why, I wonder,
when it is all over with would God suddenly start judging the
unbelievers? The fate of the unbelievers is already known (Mark 16:16).
It's the fate of the supposed believers that is to be
determined at the judgement. Does that make sense to you?

Some day we're going to
find out just what faith really is, and who's works are going to be
judged. I don't know about you, but I'm not counting on having
sufficient faith to endure to the end. I'm trying to develop my faith
by testing it daily. And I'm not counting on it being the unbeliever's
works that are going to be judged. I'm working as hard as I can to rid
this body of fleshly desires, striving to overcome as Jesus and the
Apostles overcame (John 16:33; Rev 3:21), not like the couch potatoes
who claim there is nothing to overcome once the baptismal water has
dried.

FILL IN THE BLANKS

I have found through the
years that there are many unanswered questions in the Bible. It
appeared to me that no one had the answers to the questions I would
like to have answered. And as I look back, I see a lot of times I
accepted answers that I see now were not correct, but at the time I had
nothing better presented to me. Some questions I found a bit of an
answer here, and a piece of an answer there, and in between those bits
and pieces I filled in the blanks. And I assumed I had the answer that
preachers and theologians were trying to get across to me. One such set
of answers and blanks involved Overcomers. I thought I had a good
understanding of what was being taught by a particular preacher, and I
agreed with much of what I was reading. He spoke a great deal about
Overcomers. So in effort to see just what an Overcomer is, at least in
his opinion, I searched his writings. I discovered that he never stated
what an Overcomer is. His concept of an Overcomer is someone who
belongs to the same denomination as he does, which is one he started.
Well, this is exactly what all the denominations believe,
that is, that they have all the answers and that they are right. I was
downcast to say the least. I see how I had been filling in the blanks,
causing him to say what he hadn't said. And that is the crux of the
problem - he never said.

And this is what I'm
finding all through the Bible, on every important aspect, things are
not said. When there is no way to avoid commenting on the issue, the
issue is either sidestepped by the commentators, whitewashed, made of
no consequence, or pointed at something that has nothing to do with the
subject at hand.

Does it sound like I'm
describing a politician? It does to me too. But unfortunately I'm
describing the ones we rest our eternal souls on, believing they have
the truth, and that they are telling us the truth.

It seems to me that anyone
who truly believes in God, who believes in Heaven and hell, who
believes in the Judgement, would put more effort into finding the truth
of the Gospel than they do in selecting a cold medicine. What do you
think?

THE PORCH AND THE DOOR

Jesus said He is the Door
to the sheep fold, the Church. We know and except this to be true.
Before the door we have the porch, the steps to the Church. All the
churches believe they are the Church that one must enter and remain in
after passing through the door. This is a huge fallacy that is causing
a lot of trouble within the Church body. The churches, the
denominations are not the Church, they are the steps to
the Church. On the steps of the Temple is where Jesus and the Apostles
taught the people and endeavored to convince them of the Truth. It's to
the steps people came to learn about the things of God. Within the
Temple, those who were the ones supposedly serving God and the people
of God, were people who turned a deaf ear to what Jesus was saying.
Those who should have been the most knowledgeable about the things of
God, who were the teachers of the Word of God, were in fact the most
ignorant of the things of God. The Disciples were not instructed on the
porch of the Temple where Jesus taught by words alone, they were given
their instructions while they followed Jesus and His example on the
road, and by listening to Him when they were alone. They learned by
doing as He did, by emulation, and by following His instructions. The
steps are merely the beginning, the invitation, the introduction, and
they are outside the Church, not inside. Church instruction
is important. The churches, offering the milk of the Word, prepares
those who's heart is ready to enter into the Church, to follow Jesus
through the testing experience. But instead of preparing the neophyte
for service, the churches hold down their prospective converts, telling
them they have reached their full potential, and to go no farther.
Because of this we have thousands of splintered organizations
separating the Body of Christ and keeping their adherents from
progressing in Spiritual growth as they should. The denominations argue
about the milk, and about fantasies, declaring their fantasy or
doctrine to be the correct fantasy to believe and accept. And while
they argue about the non-essentials, they ignore and deny the absolute
essentials that God insists we learn and follow if we expect to remain
standing before Him at our Judgement (Rev 6:17; Rom 14:10). If the
churches, any of the churches, were to realize that they are not
the Church, they are not the Door, and they do not
hold all the Truth, what a difference could be made in the purposes of
God.

Paul said:

11Of whom we have many things to say, and
hard
to be uttered, seeing ye
are dull of hearing. 12For
when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that
one teach you again WHICH BE THE FIRST PRINCIPLES OF THE ORACLES OF
GOD; and are become such as
have need of milk, and not of
strong meat. 13For every one that useth milk IS
UNSKILFUL IN THE WORD OF RIGHTEOUSNESS: for he is a babe. 14But
strong meat belongeth to
them that are of full age, even those
who by reason of use have their senses exercised TO DISCERN BOTH GOOD
AND EVIL. (Heb 5:)

Note that Paul is
reprimanding the churches for still needing milk, the "first
principles" of the Gospel, and not being ready for meat. Read again
what Paul has to say about those still needing milk. Read it carefully,
it's important.

Now, let's see what Paul
means when he says they still need milk. Just what is milk?

1And I, brethren, could
not speak
unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto
babes in Christ. 2I have fed you with milk, and
not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it,
neither yet now are ye able. 3For ye are yet
carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and
divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?4For
while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not
carnal? (1Cor 3:)

Take careful note what Paul
defines as "carnal, not Spiritual." The signs are division and
separation from one another within the body. And if a person is not
Spiritual, how can that person teach or understand Spiritual things?
(1Cor 2:9-16 look this up, it's important!)

1Therefore leaving the
principles of
the doctrine of Christ, let us GO ON UNTO PERFECTION;
not laying again the FOUNDATION OF REPENTANCE FROM DEAD WORKS,
AND OF FAITH TOWARD GOD, 2OF THE DOCTRINE
OF BAPTISMS, AND OF LAYING ON OF HANDS, AND OF RESURRECTION OF THE
DEAD, AND OF ETERNAL JUDGMENT. 3And this will we
do, if God permit. (Heb 6:)

Did you notice what Paul
says is milk? What he's presented here is essentially the entire
concepts of what is preached in the churches. And this is milk, not
meat. What is meat then? Paul said it, it's moving on into
perfection. But what's Paul talking about? Isn't everyone who's been
baptized already perfect? Are you getting the message? Or are you
turning a deaf ear to what I'm telling you?

Paul is speaking to those
who are the teachers, teaching things they don't know anything about.
They either refuse to learn, or they are unable to learn. But they think
they have all knowledge. This is not new, it's a common occurrence with
those in authority. We see it in governments, in the schools, in the
Sanhedrin during Jesus' times, and in the leaders during the Exodus
where those under Moses wanted to kill him because they thought they
were just as godly and knowledgeable as he was. Churches are supposed
to be feeding the sheep meat of the Word and teaching them
righteousness. But the leaders (with but very few exceptions), deny the
need for righteousness, so how can they teach what they don't know? And
if we can't learn how to be righteous in church, which is needed to
stand before God, then where do we learn righteousness?

26But the
Comforter, which is the
Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he
shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your
remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (John 14:)

25Husbands, love your
wives, even as Christ
also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26That
he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
27That he might present it to himself a
glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but
that it should be holy and without blemish. (Eph 5:)

19These be they who
separate themselves,
sensual, having not the Spirit. 20But ye,
beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying
in the Holy Ghost, 21Keep yourselves
in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ
unto eternal life. 22And of some have compassion,
making a difference: 23And others save with fear, pulling
them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the
flesh. 24Now unto him that is able to
keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence
of his glory with exceeding joy, 25To the
only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and
power, both now and for ever. Amen. (Jude 1:)

1I beseech you
therefore, brethren, by the
mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice,
holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2And
be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing
of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and
acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Rom 12:)

It's not the job of the
churches to prepare the Christian for standing before the Lord. It's our
job to prepare ourselves. It is the churches job to teach us
what we should know in order to accomplish this task, but they will not
have to bear the consequences for our failure, we will. We
are to listen to the leadership and instruction of the Holy Spirit, not
the leaders of the churches. Jesus said:

2Saying, The scribes
and the Pharisees sit in
Moses' seat: 3All therefore whatsoever they bid you
observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works:
for they say, and do not. (Mat 22:)

During the time of the Old
Testament (which is the time Jesus lived), it was customary to have the
Torah, the Bible read in church, the synagogues. Teaching doctrine,
customs and traditions was done outside the church, the synagogues, not
in the church as if what was said beyond what the Bible says is Gospel.
Today we hear commentaries taught as Gospel, and the Bible is relegated
to nothing more than support for whatever doctrine is preached.

Times may change, but
people do not. The problem that existed in Jesus time is still present
with us today. Paul had to repeatedly confront the leaders of the
churches because they followed the example of the Scribes and
Pharisees. Jesus in the second and third chapters of Revelation dealt
with this issue, attributing it to the end-time church, which is us.
Preachers and other leaders of the church are merely people. Some are
more Spiritually aware than others, and some are better speakers than
others. But regardless of the Spirituality or the ability of the
leaders, the responsibility to progress in the Lord falls on our
shoulders, not theirs (see Ezekiel chapter 33 for their outlook). The
disciples of Jesus had to go contrary to what the church was teaching
the people if they chose to follow Jesus. Jesus had to teach outside
the city of Jerusalem, the Church, in order to teach what God wanted
His people to hear. The church of His day wanted to silence Him, to
kill Him. It's no different today. The churches all try to silence
those who don't teach as they do. And, in spite of their insistence
otherwise, they do not hold the truth, but instead they present fantasy
and label it truth. You, me, every one of us, has to study the Word to
see what God is really saying if we want to find God's Truth.

Truth is important, but
only as a motivator. Knowing the truth is not the same as doing
what truth tells us to do (James 1:22). So there's no need trying to
blame the church if we fail. If we don't have the truth, it's because
we've been content with the lie we're being told and not looking for
truth.

WHAT MUST I DO?

Somehow the churches have
come to the conclusion that salvation is all there is to Christianity.
They try to figure out what constitutes salvation, and they preach
their salvation messages. Salvation is not my concern, not in this nor
in but very few of my writings. Salvation of the world is the job of
the churches and of each of us as ambassadors to the world. Just what
salvation is, what brings it about, is of little or no interest to me.
I try to reach for the "high calling" Paul tells us about and was
striving for himself. Salvation may be the open door to spending
eternity with God, but there is so much more. And since this "more" is
not taught, it is not understood by the churches and those in the pews.
And because it's not accepted or understood, neither is my writings
concerning that higher calling understood by anyone other than those
who have felt the calling to move forward.

Salvation may come with a
bath. I think there's more to it than that, but as I stated above, that
is not my concern. At the far end of the spectrum there is another
world, that of the Overcomer. Most churches and groups that speak of
the Overcomer have interpreted this to mean the 144,000, or the church
they belong to, or something that includes them, for whatever reason
they might have. Overcomers are not a denomination of couch potatoes.
They are not some elite group of mystics with a private revelation. And
they're not people who have performed some special rit or that has
somehow worked to deserve this position. The Overcomer may have no idea
at all about doctrine, nor understand what the Bible is saying at all.
The Overcomer is that one who has felt the need to abandon all security
of church doctrine and listen to the quiet voice of the Holy Spirit
telling him or her what they don't want to hear, what does not fit with
what they have been taught, and very often what makes no sense at all
until they have followed the instructions given them. The Overcomer is
the one who is struggling, against all odds, to overcome this flesh and
to become what they least want to be (in the flesh) and to be all Jesus
was, who is our example. The Overcomer is the one who loves nothing
more than to learn of the Lord, and to serve Him, even though every
attempt to serve Him properly seems to end in utter failure. The
churches teach us that we must be confident that we are in the will of
God. The churches teach us that we should have confidence in our
salvation. The Overcomer feels none of these. No matter how well the
Overcomer seems to be doing at the moment, it is not enough. Each
success reveals a dozen more failures that hadn't been noticed before.
The Overcomer strives for humility, but humility is a carrot hung
before the mule, always in sight, but never acquired.

The Overcomer is one who
can see the need to overcome the flesh, but in spite of all efforts,
just can not do as he or she knows they must do. The Overcomer wants
nothing more than to "See the face of the Lord, and to serve Him," and
nothing short of this will suffice. Eternal life is not the hope of the
Overcomer, in fact, if the Overcomer can not overcome and sit in the
seat of the Overcomer, then he or she would reject eternal life,
because they see so much more that they would be missing out on. The
Overcomer would be the one's "weeping and gnashing teeth" if they fail
to overcome.

Unless you know exactly
what I'm talking about, then what I have just said is stuff and
nonsense to you. However, whether you accept or understand what I'm
saying here or not, it may help you to understand why so much of what I
say sounds farfetched and unreconcilable. But if what I have said
touches your heartstrings, then I'm sure you feel a tear at your cheek
knowing you're not alone, and that someone else knows what your feeling
and experiencing. I would like someday to hear that someone
understands, though I doubt it will ever happen in this lifetime.

OVERCOMING

Are we to overcome? Is
Christianity a battle against our own flesh? Is Jesus and the Apostles
our example? If they are our examples, where they content to
be baptized and seek nothing further?

Are you hoping to see the
face of your Lord and serve Him diligently and with all your heart? Or
are you simply looking for a little shack in the corner of Glory?
Whatever is your goal, your hope, it's here and now you must be working
toward that goal. After you learn the truth of the Gospel it will be
too late to alter your course and your aspirations.

1And he showed me a
pure river of water of
life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the
Lamb. 2In the midst of the street of it, and on either side
of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of
fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree
were for the healing of the nations. 3And there shall be no
more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and
his servants shall serve him:4And they
shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.
(Rev 22:4)

13And one of the elders
answered, saying unto
me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes?
and whence came they? 14And I said unto him, Sir, thou
knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of
great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and
made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15Therefore
are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night
in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell
among them. 16THEY shall hunger no more,
neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on THEM,
nor any heat. 17For the Lamb which is in the midst of the
throne shall feed them, and shall lead THEM unto
living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from THEIR
eyes. (Rev 7:)

33These things I have
spoken unto you, that in
me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation:
but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. (John 16:)

Did you notice who
is comforted through eternity? Who it is that will see the
Lord's face and have access to the tree of life? Have you decided yet
whether you want to be a couch potato Christian or get out on the field
with the others who are striving for a crown of life?

14For the
kingdom of heaven
is as a man travelling into a far country, who called HIS OWN
SERVANTS, and delivered unto them his goods. 15And
unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to
every man according to his several ability; and
straightway took his journey. ..... 29For unto every one
that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him
that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. 30And
cast ye the unprofitable SERVANT into outer darkness:
there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Mat 25:)

Tell me now, who is being
judged here do you think? Is it the world of the unbelievers who are
being judged as is taught in the churches? Is that the way you read
these verses? If you think it's the "servants" (which I take to mean
those who have been baptized and taken on the Christian name), who are
being judged, as it appears to me to be, then who are the ones doing
the weeping and gnashing of teeth?

26If any man come to
me, and hate not his
father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters,
yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
27And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come
after me, cannot be my disciple. 28For
which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth
the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? (Luke 14:)

I have yet, to my
recollection, heard a sermon preached on this passage of Scripture.
Could it be that what Jesus is saying goes against the "do nothing"
doctrines of the churches? But whether you've heard this preached or
not, or if the sermon sweetened the words with strawberry icing, did
you count the cost when you became a Christian? Did you
abandon everything, including your own life and take up your cross on
your way to Calvary? Or were you even informed of the need to do so?

12Not as though I had
already attained, either
were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that
for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 13Brethren,
I count not myself to have apprehended: but this
one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching
forth unto those things which are before, 14I PRESS
TOWARD THE MARK FOR THE PRIZE OF THE HIGH CALLING OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS.
15Let us therefore, as many as be perfect,
be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded,
GOD SHALL REVEAL EVEN THIS UNTO YOU. 16Nevertheless,
whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us
mind the same thing. (Phil 3:)

Are you otherwise minded? Do
you think Christianity is something other than pressing toward the mark
of the high calling? If so, don't you think it would be a good idea if
you followed Paul's advice and prayed for God to reveal the truth to
you?

11And he gave some,
apostles; and some,
prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12FOR
THE PERFECTING OF THE SAINTS, for the work of the ministry, for the
edifying of the body of Christ: 13Till we
all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of
God, unto a perfect man, UNTO THE MEASURE OF THE STATURE OF THE FULNESS
OF CHRIST: (Eph 4:)

Did you read closely what
Paul says about pastors, teachers and other leaders of the church? What
is their purpose? Why did God give us these leaders and instructors? To
what degree of maturity are we to be brought to? Read this section in
your Bible and see what Paul has to say about children and winds of
doctrine.

24Know ye not
that they which run in a
race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run,
that ye may obtain. 25And every man that striveth
for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a
corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. 26I therefore so
run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as
one that beateth the air: 27But I keep under my
body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have
preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. (1Cor 9:)

12Fight the
good fight of faith, lay
hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and
hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. (1Tim
6:)

At your baptism, did you
repeat the sinners prayer or read it off a card? Then chances are you
have also promised to turn your life over to Jesus and take up your
cross and follow Him. Are you keeping that promise? What do you think
God is going to do with those, the unfaithful, who don't keep their
promise to Him? (Eccles 5:4-7)

CONCLUSION

The battle is not won in
the baptismal tank, but on the battle field. Spectators sit in the
bleachers watching those who strive for the mastery, the crown of the
high calling. Where are you? Are you in the pews, or on the field?

27But I keep under my
body, and bring it into
subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to
others, I myself should be a castaway. (1Cor 9:)

Paul is in the ring taking
punches in order to keep from becoming a castaway, a reject. Are you in
the ring with him? Or are you ringside nibbling potato chips?

24Then said Jesus unto
his disciples, If any
man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross,
and follow me. 25For whosoever will save his life
shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find
it.26For what is a man profited, if he shall gain
the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in
exchange for his soul? 27For the Son of man shall come in
the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall
reward every man according to his works. (Mat 16:)

1He that hath an ear,
let him hear what the
Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not
be hurt of THE SECOND DEATH. (Rev 2:)

13And the sea gave up
the dead which were in
it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and
they were judged every man according to their works. 14And
death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is THE
SECOND DEATH. (Rev 20:)

3For if a man think
himself to be something,
when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. 4But let
every man prove his own work, and then shall he have
rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. 5For
every man shall bear his own burden. 6Let him that is
taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good
things. 7Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for
whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8For
he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he
that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. 9And
let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if
we faint not. 10As we have therefore opportunity,
let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the
household of faith. (Gal 6:)

"Sowing" is a "Works" word.
What are you sowing?

19Brethren, if any of
you do err from
the truth, and one convert him; 20Let him know,
that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way
shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.
(James 5:20)

I want you to know that I
have a multitude of sins that need covering. That's one reason I try so
hard to move Christians away from error and expose them to the truth.
As far as I can see I'm failing miserably in my efforts. I can only
hope the Lord gives me credit for my attempt.

[For more on overcoming
see: THE CALLED, CHOSEN, ELECT, AND THE GLORY. Also check out OASIS,
and MISSING THE MARK, and I AM THE DOOR.

For more on works see:
FANTASIES - LAW & WORKS.]

17For the time is come
that judgment
must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us,
what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? 18And
if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly
and the sinner appear? (1Peter 4:)

3And the glory of the
God of Israel was gone
up from the cherub, whereupon he was, to the threshold of the house.
And he called to the man clothed with linen, which had the writer's
inkhorn by his side; 4And the LORD said unto him, Go
through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem,
and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and
that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.
5And to the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye
after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither
have ye pity: 6Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and
little children, and women: but come not near any man upon
whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began
at the ancient men which were before the house. (Ezek 9:)

1And after these things
I saw four angels
standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of
the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea,
nor on any tree. 2And I saw another angel ascending from
the east, having the seal of the living God: and he
cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to
hurt the earth and the sea, 3Saying, Hurt not the
earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants
of our God in their foreheads. 4And I heard the
number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an
hundred and forty and four thousand of all the
tribes of the children of Israel. (Rev 7:)

Where does the
beginning of God's judgement on this world begin? Who are the
ones who will be missing this judgement? Is it those baptized
Christians sitting ringside that are going to be saved? Are you willing
to risk your eternal destiny and safety on the concept being taught
that everyone bearing the name of Christian will be rescued from the
Tribulation?

Jerusalem is the city of
God, the Church. "Jews," like the churches in the second and third
chapters of Revelation, is a representation of the different types of
churches and Christians. In this New Testament Spiritual realm "Israel"
(Jew) is the Church as explained in Romans 9:6-8.

The Scriptures concerning
Overcomers below are universally applied to us as believers:

11He that hath an ear, let
him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that
overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death. (Rev 2:11)

7He that hath an ear, let
him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that
overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the
midst of the paradise of God. (Rev 2:7)

17He that hath an ear, let
him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that
overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a
white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth
saving he that receiveth it. (Rev 2:17)

26And he that
overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power
over the nations:27And he shall rule
them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they
be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. 28And
I will give him the morning star. 29He that
hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. (Rev 2:26)

4Thou hast a few names even
in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk
with me in white: for they are worthy. 5He
that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will
not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his
name before my Father, and before his angels. 6He
that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
(Rev 3:5)

10Because thou hast kept
the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour
of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that
dwell upon the earth. 11Behold, I come quickly:
hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
12Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in
the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write
upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which
is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I
will write upon him my new name. 13He that hath an ear, let
him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. (Rev 3:12)

5And he that sat upon the
throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write:
for these words are true and faithful. 6And he said unto
me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.
I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of
life freely. 7He that overcometh shall inherit all things;
and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. 8But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the
abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and
idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which
burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. (Rev 21:7)

1And I saw another sign in
heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last
plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God. 2And I
saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that
had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his
mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass,
having the harps of God. (Rev 15:2)

3For what if some did not
believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? 4God
forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written,
That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest
overcome when thou art judged. (Rom 3:4)

Each of the letters in the
second and third chapters of Revelation are composed of two separate
parts. The first part of the letters are written to a type of church or
person within the body of Christ wherein a commendation is given, and
instructions as to where a church or person is failing. Along with that
commendation a warning is given that church as to what the consequences
will be if that problem, that failure, isn't corrected. The intent, as
I see it, is that each church should seek to find (from among all the
letters) where they need work, and strive to overcome that error. We
see an example of this in practice where Paul reprimanded the church of
Corinth regarding sin in the camp. Instead of the modern churches
recognizing that these warnings are for them, they believe themselves
above any such reprimand, in spite of their obviously falling into that
category, stressing the Love of Jesus and being covered by the blood,
and believe themselves to be a part of the last portion of each letter.

At the end of each letter
Jesus commends those who overcome as He has overcome, and states that
it is these who will have a part in the rewards coming to Him. I would expect
that every church, and every member of every church, would be striving
to attain to the higher calling of Paul, of the Overcomer, and to rid
themself of every shortcoming given in the letters to the churches. I
would also expect that sermons and teachings would be based on this
effort, as they were in the fire and brimstone preaching days in which
I grew up.

The above Scriptures are
universally applied to us as believers. And I think you will agree that
there are great rewards prepared for those who Overcome, and dreadful
punishment for those who do not, and for those who don't even try.

But what is an Overcomer? Is
it all those who have been baptized? Or is there more?

Generally the churches and
commentaries use this Scripture to explain what Overcome means:

4For whatsoever is born
of God overcometh the
world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our
faith. 5Who is he that overcometh the world, but he
that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? (1John 5:5)

It sure sounds like all we
have to do is believe, and in fact, this Scripture doesn't even mention
baptism.

But just to be on the safe
side, let's look at some of the surrounding verses, shall we?

1Whosoever
believeth that Jesus is the
Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth
him also that is begotten of him. 2By this we know
that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep
his commandments.3For this is the love of
God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are
not grievous. 4For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the
world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our
faith. 5Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that
believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? (1John 5:5)

Look any different to you?
The words "Keep Commandments" somehow slipped out of the
Traditionalist's view. I wonder how that happened?

Here's a little more that
John had to say on the subject:

14I have written unto you,
fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have
written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God
abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one. 15Love
not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any
man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
(1John 2:13-14)

The Scriptures we looked at
first (from Revelation) were those spoken by Jesus, who surely must
know what "Overcome" means. Let's see if there are any verses of
Scripture that He applied to Himself as an Overcomer whereby we may
better understand just what He expects of us:

32Behold, the hour
cometh, yea, is now come,
that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me
alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. 33These
things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the
world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I HAVE
OVERCOME THE WORLD. (John 16:33)

21To him that
overcometh will I grant to sit
with me in my throne, EVEN AS I ALSO OVERCAME, and am
set down with my Father in his throne. 22He that hath an
ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. (Rev 3:21)

26And he that
overcometh, and keepeth
my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the
nations: (Rev 2:26)

The picture I get is that
Jesus expects us to Overcome in the same way that He
Overcame. Did you get that picture?

Now the question is; how
did Jesus Overcome the world???

Different interpretations
and different desires create a multitude of different denominations and
cults. There are thousands of opinions floating around for every
subject. And more than likely every one of them is wrong.

19While
they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of
corruption: for of whom a
man is overcome, of the same is he
brought in bondage. 20For
if after they have
escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord
and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and
overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. 21For
it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness,
than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment
delivered unto them. 22But it is happened unto them
according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit
again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire. (2Pet
2:19-20)